Method and apparatus for location-based recovery of stolen mobile devices

ABSTRACT

A method, apparatus, and system for locating mobile devices. The system includes a location-aware mobile device. The location-aware mobile device includes a location-aware mechanism embedded in a platform firmware layer of the location-aware mobile device. The system also includes a central database to receive location information from the location-aware mobile device over a network. If the location-aware mobile device has been stolen, lost, or misplaced, the central database reports the stolen, lost, or misplaced location-aware mobile device and its location to appropriate persons to enable the location-aware mobile device to be recovered.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/014,891, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOCATION-BASED RECOVERY OFSTOLEN MOBILE DEVICES,” filed Dec. 17, 2004. The Specification ofapplication Ser. No. 11/014,891 is hereby fully incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention are generally related to the fieldof location aware computing. More particularly, embodiments of thepresent invention are related to a method and apparatus forlocation-based recovery of lost or stolen mobile devices.

Description

Location awareness is becoming increasingly important in computingsystems, especially in mobile devices. Location awareness in mobiledevices enables users to be directed to specific locations, to findpeople and resources, and to switch the operating context of the mobiledevice based on location (e.g., home vs. work). Currently, locationawareness is implemented at the operating system or application level.

With the location awareness being implemented at the operating system orapplication level, if the mobile device is stolen, the thief may replacethe encrypted hard drive, thereby causing the location awarenesscapability to be lost as well.

Thus, what is needed is a method and apparatus for enabling a mobiledevice to have location awareness capabilities that cannot be removedwith the removal of the hard drive. What is also needed is a method andapparatus for enabling a mobile device to be located when stolen, lost,misplaced, etc., using location awareness capabilities built into themobile device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form partof the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present inventionand, together with the description, further serve to explain theprinciples of the invention and to enable a person skilled in thepertinent art(s) to make and use the invention. In the drawings, likereference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar,and/or structurally similar elements. The drawing in which an elementfirst appears is indicated by the leftmost digit(s) in the correspondingreference number.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system forlocation-based recovery of mobile devices according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary apparatus of alocation-based recovery mechanism embedded in the platform firmware of amobile device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method forlocation-based recovery of mobile devices that are stolen, lost, ormisplaced from the perspective of a location reporting module accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method forlocation-based recovery of mobile devices that are stolen, lost, ormisplaced from the perspective of a central database according to anembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the present invention is described herein with reference toillustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should beunderstood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled inthe relevant art(s) with access to the teachings provided herein willrecognize additional modifications, applications, and embodiments withinthe scope thereof and additional fields in which embodiments of thepresent invention would be of significant utility.

Reference in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment” or“another embodiment” of the present invention means that a particularfeature, structure or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the presentinvention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment” and“in an embodiment” appearing in various places throughout thespecification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method andapparatus for location-based recovery of stolen, lost, or misplacedmobile devices. This is accomplished by embedding location-awaretechnology within the platform firmware of the mobile device. Theembedded location-aware capabilities may be used to provide the locationof the mobile device, and, if necessary, to enable the recovery of themobile device if it is stolen, lost, or misplaced. Implementing thelocation-aware technology in the firmware rather than the operatingsystem or application layer prevents the location-based recoverymechanism from being removed if the disk drive is replaced. Thelocation-aware capabilities in the mobile device include a locationsensing technology built into the platform firmware by the factory aspart of the motherboard and a location reporting module as part of theplatform firmware for reporting the location of the mobile device to anInternet node. The location of the mobile device is reported to acentral database to enable the mobile device to be recovered if it wasstolen, lost, or misplaced or for other purposes, such as, for example,keeping track of inventory.

Embodiments of the present invention may require the firmware and anyfirmware upgrades to be non-hackable. Therefore, the firmware and anyfirmware upgrades are signed to prevent the replacement of the firmwarewith alternate firmware that does not contain the location-basedrecovery mechanism. Digitally signing the firmware and any firmwareupgrades prevents the firmware from being replaced with something thatis not digitally signed. This also proves whether a replacement isvalid. Digital signatures are well-known in the relevant art(s).

Embodiments of the present invention are shown as being implemented inthe platform firmware of a laptop computer. Although the location-awarecapabilities are described as being implemented in the platform firmwareof a laptop computer, the invention is not limited to laptop computers.The location-aware capabilities may be implemented in the platformfirmware of other mobile computing devices, such as, for example,personal digital assistants, notebook computers, tablet computers,cellular telephones, pagers, etc. In fact, embodiments of the inventionmay also be used to locate computing devices that may not be classifiedas mobile, yet may be compact enough to be easily stolen, lost, ormisplaced.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system 100 forlocation-based recovery of mobile devices according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. System 100 comprises a location-aware computingdevice such as, for example, laptop 102, a wide-area network such as,for example, Internet 104, and a central database 106. Internet 104allows location-aware computing device 102 to communicate with centraldatabase 106, and vice versa.

Although location-aware computing device 102 is shown as a laptopcomputer, location-aware computing device 102 may be any mobile devicecapable of location-aware computing. Such mobile devices may include,but are not limited to, laptop computers, notebook computers, tabletcomputers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellular telephones,pagers, etc. Location-aware computing device 102 may also be referred toas a mobile device.

Location-aware computing device 102 includes location hardwareimplemented within the platform's firmware. Location-aware computingdevice 102 may be capable of connecting to Internet 104 via a wirelessand/or wired connection. Location-aware computing device 102 will bedescribed further with reference to FIG. 2.

In one embodiment, central database 106 may be part of a corporateInformation Technology (IT) department tasked to maintain, keep trackof, and protect all mobile devices owned by the corporation. In anotherembodiment, central database 106 may be owned by a service providercompany tasked to monitor or track personally owned mobile devices toenable the mobile devices to be recovered if they are stolen, lost, ormisplaced. Other types of entities may also provide a central databasefor tracking location-aware computing devices.

Central database 106 receives location reports and mobile deviceidentification information on a plurality of mobile devices. Centraldatabase 106 also reports the location of a stolen, lost, or misplacedmobile device to the appropriate parties. The appropriate parties maybe, but are not limited to, the corporate IT department, the serviceprovider, the owner of the mobile device, the rightful user of themobile device, law enforcement officials, etc.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram 200 illustrating an exemplary apparatus for alocation-based recovery mechanism embedded in platform firmware of amobile device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Shownin FIG. 2 is an operating system 202 coupled to a platform firmwarelayer 204. Operating system 202 is a program in the mobile device thatis loaded off of a hard drive, flash memory, or some other type ofnon-volatile memory and resides in temporary memory. Operating system202 maintains disk files, runs applications, and handles devices, suchas, for example, a keyboard, a monitor, a printer, a mouse, a diskdrive, etc. Operating systems are well known in the relevant art(s). Inembodiments of the present invention, the location-based recoverymechanism is separate from operating system 202, and is embedded inplatform firmware layer 204.

Platform firmware layer 204 comprises, inter alia, a platform resourceinterface 206, a platform location service 208, a location reportingmodule 210, a network stack 212, network hardware 216, and locationhardware 214. Platform resource interface 206 may be coupled to platformlocation service 208 and network stack 212. Platform location service208 may be coupled to location hardware 214 and location reportingmodule 210. Network stack 212 may be coupled to location reportingmodule 210 and network hardware 216.

Platform resource interface 206 is an interface layer that enablesoperating system 202 to communicate with the remaining components inplatform firmware layer 204. In one embodiment of the invention,platform resource interface 206 may be a set of application programminginterfaces (APis) that enable operating system 202 to communicate withthe other components in platform firmware layer 204. For example,operating system 202 may use platform resource interface 206 to sendnetwork packets back and forth over a network via network stack 212 andnetwork hardware 216. Also, operating system 202 may use platformresource interface 206 to request the location of the mobile device viaplatform location service 208 and location hardware 214.

Platform location service 208 is a firmware module that provideslocation information to an entity requesting the location of the mobiledevice. Platform location service 208 provides the location informationin the proper format for the requesting entity. For example, operatingsystem 202 may request the location of the mobile device and platformlocation service 208 will provide the information to operating system202 in a format suitable for operating system 202, such as, for example,in the form of longitude and latitude. Platform location service 208 mayalso receive a request for the location of the mobile device fromlocation reporting module 210.

Platform location service 208 retrieves the location information fromlocation hardware 214. Location hardware 214 may be any hardware capableof determining the location of the mobile device. For example, locationhardware 214 may be a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, which iswell known in the relevant art(s). Location hardware may also be a WI-FI(Wireless Fidelity) receiver for determining location based on WI-FIaccess points, a cellular receiver for determining location based oncell tower proximity, or any other receiver capable of determining thelocation of the mobile device.

Location reporting module 210 initiates the transaction that reports thelocation of the mobile device to the central database. Thus, locationreporting module 210 handles all outside requests for the location ofthe mobile device. Location reporting module 210 keeps abreast of whenplatform firmware layer 204 connects to the Internet. Location reportingmodule 210 sends and receives network packets off of network stack 212.When platform firmware layer 204 connects to the Internet, locationreporting module 210 is made aware of the connection from network stack212. Location reporting module 210 sends an initial network packet tocentral database 106 to inquire whether central database 106 wantslocation information for the mobile device. The network packet includesan identifier to enable central database 106 to identify the mobiledevice that sent the network packet. If central database 106 respondsthat it does want location information for the mobile device, thenlocation reporting module 210 will query platform location service 208to obtain its location from location hardware 214. When locationreporting module 210 receives the location information from platformlocation service 208, location reporting module 210 packages theinformation into a network packet and sends it back out of network stack212 via network hardware 216 to central database 106.

Network stack 212, along with network hardware 216, are standardcomponents that allow other components on platform firmware layer 204 tosend and receive network packets over the Internet, and are well-knownin the art(s). Network stack 212 puts network packets together andcontrols network hardware 216. Network stack 212 may be software, suchas, for example, a TCP/IP stack. Network hardware 216 may be a networkinterface card (NIC), such as, for example, a WI-FI card, an Ethernetcard, etc. Network hardware 216 may also be a phone modem or anythingthat allows platform firmware layer 204 to connect to the Internet.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram 300 illustrating an exemplary method forlocation-based recovery of mobile devices that are stolen, lost, ormisplaced from the perspective of a location reporting module accordingto an embodiment of the present invention. The invention is not limitedto the embodiment described herein with respect to flow diagram 300.Rather, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s)after reading the teachings provided herein that other functional flowdiagrams are within the scope of the invention. The process begins at302, where the process immediately proceeds to block 304.

In block 304, network stack 212 reports that a connection to Internet104 has been made. Central database 106 is then accessed to see if themobile device should report its location to the central database (block306). The process then proceeds to decision block 308.

In decision block 308, it is determined whether central database 106 hasrequested the location of the mobile device. If it is determined thatcentral database 106 has requested the location of the mobile device,the process proceeds to block 310.

In block 310, platform location service 208 is queried to obtain thelocation of the mobile device. The location of the mobile device isobtained from location hardware 214. Location hardware 214 may usesensing technology to determine the location of the mobile device. Theprocess then proceeds to block 312.

In block 312, the location of the mobile device is received. Thelocation of the mobile device is then sent to central database 106 vianetwork stack 212, network hardware 216, and Internet 104, therebyenabling central database 106 to notify the appropriate parties. If themobile device has been lost, stolen, or misplaced, central database 106will notify the appropriate parties who may take action to recover themobile device. Such parties may include, but are not limited to, thecorporate IT department, the service provider organization, the locallaw enforcement department, the owner of the mobile device, the personlisted as being responsible for the mobile device, etc.

Returning to decision block 308, if it is determined that centraldatabase 106 has not requested the location of the mobile device, theprocess proceeds to block 314. In block 314, the process ends.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram 400 illustrating an exemplary method forlocation-based recovery of mobile devices that are stolen, lost, ormisplaced from the perspective of a central database according to anembodiment of the present invention. The invention is not limited to theembodiment described herein with respect to flow diagram 400. Rather, itwill be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) after readingthe teachings provided herein that other functional flow diagrams arewithin the scope of the invention. The process begins at 402, where theprocess immediately proceeds to block 404.

In block 404, a request as to whether location data should be reportedfor a mobile device is received from the mobile device. The requestincludes identification for the mobile device. In one embodiment, theidentification may be an address unique to the mobile device, such as,for example, a MAC (Media Access Control) address. Other types of uniqueidentifiers may also be used. The process then proceeds to decisionblock 406.

In decision block 406, it is determined whether location data should bereported for the mobile device identified in the request. Centraldatabase 106 may determine, using the unique identifier provided in thenetwork packet, whether the entity in control of central database 106 isinterested in knowing the location of the mobile device. For example, ifthe mobile device has been reported stolen, lost, or misplaced, or ifthe entity in control of the central database needs to know the locationof the mobile device for inventory purposes, then central database 106will determine that the location is needed and the process will proceedto block 408.

In block 408, a reply is sent to the mobile device indicating that thelocation of the mobile device should be sent to central database 106. Inblock 410, the location data for the mobile device is received. Theprocess then proceeds to block 412, where the appropriate persons areinformed of the location of the mobile device for purposes of recoveringthe mobile device if the mobile device has been stolen, lost, ormisplaced or, if the mobile device has not been lost, stolen, ormisplaced, for purposes of keeping track of inventory or other purposes.

Returning to decision block 406, if it is determined that location datafor the mobile device identified in the request should not be reported,then the process proceeds to block 414. In block 414, the process ends.

Although embodiments of the present invention are described with amobile reporting its location only when requested by central database106, the invention is not limited to this. For example, in analternative embodiment, an administrator for central database 106 mayset a policy to have a mobile device report its location each time themobile device connects to the Internet. Other reporting policies mayalso be implemented by the administrator as well.

Certain aspects of embodiments of the present invention may beimplemented using hardware, software, or a combination thereof and maybe implemented in one or more computer systems or other processingsystems. In fact, in one embodiment, the methods may be implemented inprograms executing on programmable machines such as mobile or stationarycomputers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), set top boxes, cellulartelephones and pagers, and other electronic devices that each include aprocessor, a storage medium readable by the processor (includingvolatile and non-volatile memory and/or storage elements), at least oneinput device, and one or more output devices. Program code is applied tothe data entered using the input device to perform the functionsdescribed and to generate output information. The output information maybe applied to one or more output devices. One of ordinary skill in theart may appreciate that embodiments of the invention may be practicedwith various computer system configurations, including multiprocessorsystems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Embodimentsof the present invention may also be practiced in distributed computingenvironments where tasks may be performed by remote processing devicesthat are linked through a communications network.

Each program may be implemented in a high level procedural or objectoriented programming language to communicate with a processing system.However, programs may be implemented in assembly or machine language, ifdesired. In any case, the language may be compiled or interpreted.

Program instructions may be used to cause a general-purpose orspecial-purpose processing system that is programmed with theinstructions to perform the methods described herein. Alternatively, themethods may be performed by specific hardware components that containhardwired logic for performing the methods, or by any combination ofprogrammed computer components and custom hardware components. Themethods described herein may be provided as a computer program productthat may include a machine readable medium having stored thereoninstructions that may be used to program a processing system or otherelectronic device to perform the methods. The term “machine readablemedium” or “machine accessible medium” used herein shall include anymedium that is capable of storing or encoding a sequence of instructionsfor execution by the machine and that causes the machine to perform anyone of the methods described herein. The terms “machine readable medium”and “machine accessible medium” shall accordingly include, but not belimited to, solid-state memories, optical and magnetic disks, and acarrier wave that encodes a data signal. Furthermore, it is common inthe art to speak of software, in one form or another (e.g., program,procedure, process, application, module, logic, and so on) as taking anaction or causing a result. Such expressions are merely a shorthand wayof stating the execution of the software by a processing system to causethe processor to perform an action or produce a result.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove, it should be understood that they have been presented by way ofexample only, and not limitation. It will be understood by those skilledin the art that various changes in form and details may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedin the appended claims. Thus, the breadth and scope of the presentinvention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplaryembodiments, but should be defined in accordance with the followingclaims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile computing device at least partiallybuilt at a factory, the mobile computing device to communicate with acentral monitor, comprising: a firmware; a hard drive for storing anoperating system; a networking hardware to facilitate networkcommunication with the central monitor; a location aware technologypre-installed in the firmware during the build of the mobile computingdevice and operable to provide a location information, the locationaware technology able to communicate with at least one of a geolocationpositioning system, a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) receiver, or a cellularreceiver; and a location reporting module to at least send the locationinformation over the Internet, by way of the networking hardware, to thecentral monitor; wherein the location aware technology, being embeddedin the firmware, remains able to communicate with the central monitorafter a selected one or more of: a reformatting of an operating systemof the mobile computing device, an installation of a new operatingsystem on the mobile computing device, or a removal of the hard drivefrom the mobile computing device.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein thelocation reporting module is to further receive from a central databasea message that indicates the mobile computing device has been stolen,lost, or misplaced.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the mobilecomputing device performs an action responsive to receiving the messagefrom the central database.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the actionincludes the mobile device reporting its location each time it connectsto a network.
 5. The device of claim 1, further comprising disposing thedevice in a selected one of: a laptop computer, a notebook computer, atablet, a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, or a pager.6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is personally owned buttracked by an employer's corporate IT department.
 7. The device of claim1, wherein a central database is to further notify at least one of lawenforcement personnel, corporate Information Technology (IT) personnel,or service provider personnel to enable the mobile computing device tobe recovered.
 8. A method for locating a mobile computing device atleast partially assembled at a factory to include a location awaretechnology in its firmware that remains operable to communicate alocation information after a selected one or more of a reformatting ofan operating system of the mobile computing device, an installation of anew operating system on the mobile computing device, or a removal of ahard drive from the mobile computing device, the method comprising:receiving a network packet from the mobile computing device thatincludes the location information, via a network, from a locationreporting module in the mobile computing device, the locationinformation from the location aware technology in the firmware of themobile computing device including data associated with at least one of aglobal positioning system, a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) receiver, or acellular receiver; and sending a first notification indicating notifyingone or more appropriate persons of the location information for themobile computing device to enable the mobile computing device to berecovered if stolen, lost, or misplaced.
 9. The method of claim 8,further comprising sending a second notification to the mobile deviceindicating the mobile computing device has been stolen, lost, ormisplaced.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the mobile device is or ispart of a selected one of: a laptop computer, a notebook computer, atablet, a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, or a pager.11. The method of claim 8, wherein the first notification is sent to acorporate IT department, and wherein the mobile computing device ispersonally owned.
 12. The method of claim 8, further comprising: sendinga message, to the mobile computing device, requesting locationinformation from the location reporting module of the mobile computingdevice.
 13. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining if themobile computing device has been stolen, lost, or misplaced.
 14. Themethod of claim 13, wherein based at least in part on the determining,the first notification is sent to one or more of: law enforcementpersonnel, corporate Information Technology (IT) personnel, or serviceprovider personnel.
 15. One or more non-transitory computer-readablemedia disposed at least in part within a firmware, the firmwareassociated with a networking hardware for communicating with at least acentral monitor and a location hardware, the one or more media havinginstructions to provide for: contacting the central monitor to obtain astatus; accessing, at least based on the status, the location hardwareto determine a location; and accessing the networking hardware tocommunicate with the central monitor over a network at leastintermittently communicatively coupling the networking hardware with thecentral monitor; wherein the firmware remains able to communicate withthe central monitor after a selected one or more of: a reformatting ofan operating system of a mobile computing device, an installation of anew operating system on the mobile computing device, or a removal of ahard drive from the mobile computing device.
 16. The media of claim 15,wherein the network comprises a selected one or more of the Internet, aprivate network, a public network, a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) basednetwork, and a cellular data network.
 17. The media of claim 15, whereinthe associated location hardware is able to communicate with at leastone of a geolocation positioning system, a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi)receiver, or a cellular receiver.
 18. The media of claim 17, wherein thelocation hardware and the firmware are disposed within a machine duringat least a partial build of the machine at a factory.
 19. The media ofclaim 15, further comprising disposing the media in a selected one of: amobile machine; a laptop computer; a notebook computer; a tabletcomputer; a personal digital assistant; a cellular telephone; a pager; abasic input/output system (BIOS); or a non-volatile memory accessible atleast during performing a boot of a machine.
 20. The media of claim 15,wherein the firmware is to communicate with a hard drive, and the one ormore media having instructions to provide for: inspecting the hard drivefor a software being installed on the hard drive, the software beingassociated with the firmware; and installing the software in the harddrive based at least in part on the inspecting.
 21. A mobile computingdevice able to communicate with a central monitor, comprising: afirmware; a location aware technology installed in the firmware andoperable to provide a location information corresponding to the mobilecomputing device; wherein the location aware technology, being embeddedin the firmware, remains able to communicate with the central monitorafter a selected one or more of a reformatting of an operating system ofthe mobile computing device, an installation of a new operating systemon the mobile computing device, or a removal of a hard drive from themobile computing device.
 22. The mobile computing device of claim 21,wherein the location aware technology is to communicate with at leastone of a geolocation positioning system, a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi)receiver, or a cellular receiver.
 23. The mobile computing device ofclaim 21, further comprising a location reporting module to at leastsend the location information over the Internet to the central monitor.